Recipe: Oatmeal Carrot Cake Bread and Cream Cheese Spread (Quaker Oats recipe)

OATMEAL CARROT CAKE BREAD

1 cup Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1/2 cup whole, 2% or fat-free milk
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained
4 large egg whites or 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 1/2 cups shredded carrots (about 3 medium)
1/2 cup raisins
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE SPREAD (OPTIONAL):
4 ounces regular or reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray bottom only of 9x5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray or grease lightly.

Combine oats and milk in medium bowl; mix well. Let stand 10 minutes.

Add pineapple (including juice), egg whites, oil and vanilla; mix well; set aside.

In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; mix well. Stir in carrots and raisins. Add oat mixture all at once; stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. (Do not overmix.) Pour batter into pan.

Bake 60 to 75 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and crust is golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely. Store tightly wrapped.

TO MAKE THE CREAM CHEESE SPREAD:
Beat together all ingredients for the spread in small bowl until smooth. Store tightly covered in refrigerator up to 3 days.

Makes 1 loaf (16 servings)
Source: The Quaker Oats Company